The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-11-30
Swimmers and Swimming.

1t is not every one who can learn to
swim like Byron, Franklin, Sir Cloud
esley Shovel, Leander, Mary Wakefield
and the other historic swimmers. In
order to perform such feats as they did
a person must have buoyant flesh. not
too heavy bones, great wind, cool
nerves and much practice. In a school
OF fifty boys there are always few who
can SWIM great deal easier and longer
than the rest, and there are some long
strong, bony fellows who are tired in
twenty strokes. Byron owed his power
IN the water chiefly to the buoyancy of
his flesh, but partly to the muscular de-
Velopment of his arms and chest. He
was superb creature from his waist
upward. In swimming the Hellespont
he was in the water one hour and ten
minutes, and came out, as he used 70
boast, very little the worse for his vow
age. Indeed, he had several SWIMMING
adventures in his life which were more
difficult than the one which he per-
formed in imitation of Leander. Once on
Brighton Beach he was exhausted in bat
ting with the surf, and would have been
drowned but for some by-standers, who
formed line for his rescue. Cloudeslev
Showers grand exploit was probably due
TO his muscular strength and great prac-
tlce. lie was cabin-boy on board Adj
miral Narborough's ship during the
naval war between England and Hol-
land two hundred years ago. Mar
borough was lost unless he could get
word to portion of his fleet which
was near, but out of sight behind a
high piece of land. No boat could have
llved In the fierce fire of the fleets. and
there was no possible way of commune
eating an order except by swimming.
The admiral called for volunteers. and
among those who sprang forward was his
own cabin-boy, a vigorous, handsome lad
of eighteen. He had been a cobbler's an
prentice and had run away TO sea.
" What can you do, my fearless lad?"
asked Admiral Marlborough. :" can
swim, sir" replied the youth; " and
II I'm shot can be easier spared than
any one else" That answer. with the
look that accompanied it, settled the
question. In another minute or two.
with the order in his mouth. the lad
swan out of sight into the dense
smoke of the battle, followed by the
cheers of the crew. He brought the
reserve fleet into action in time, gave
his country another victory and won for
himself lieutenant's commission. His
remains now lie in Westminster Abbey.
with a monument over them bearing
the name of Admiral Sir Cloudeslev
Shovel. Mary Wakefeld's brave act on
Lake Michigan, a month or so ago. was
not exactly feat in swimming. When
she sprang from the burning steamer
into the lake with the captains child,
six years of age, in her arms. she
laid hold of piece of wood and had
to use both her hands in clinging to it.
The child she held up by her teeth in
its clothes, and thus encumbered she
struck out boldly for the shore. On
her way she met rescuing boat, which
stopped to take them in. I" Hurry
away to the others; / can take care of
the child" she cried. She reached
the shore safely with her charge. and
was soon ready to lend a most efficient
hand in caring for the perishing sur
vlvors as they arrived by the boats.
This was rare and noble act of cour-
age and endurance, for the water was
little above the freezing point in that
northern region. No, we cannot all do
these grand and noble things. Some |
Of us can, however, if we try the right
way, and we can all admire them and !
honor the doers.- Youths COMPANION.